FOODIE DIARIES

| Has Houston Gone MAD? By Jim Ayres Tucked into the darker, backside of River Oaks District, the asylum awaits. Once inside, you need a minute to prepare yourself. The

By Jim Ayres A while back, on a cold winters’ eve, I stopped into Weights + Measures for dessert and an after-dinner drink. It hadn’t been open long, and the

By Jim Ayres “Low-Carb and Loving It!†I think that was the name of the Food Network show that aired about 15 years ago. Well, I’m resurrecting it in 2020!

By Jim Ayres Happy holidays, MONTROSE STAR readers! Every year, around this time, I tell you about an extraordinary Houston dining experience. This year is no exception! In the last

By Jim Ayres There’s a lot to love about Austin. A blue oasis in the heart of Texas (though I think the oasis is expanding this way, too). And, of

By Jim Ayres Anyone who’s ever known me, and many who don’t, know my lament by heart. I am tied to my desk during July, August, and September. The third

By Jim Ayres Of course, it wasn’t my fault. Dinner invites happen, and I’m never one to decline simply because of venue. A few columns back, I mentioned that I

By Jim Ayres I was always curious about Seasons 52, a local outpost of the upscale “low calorie†chain. It’s part of the restaurant group that includes Eddie V’s and

By Jim Ayres It was a beautiful afternoon. The temperature was climbing, but in September the blue sky already had an autumnal cast. Listening to Lana Del Rey’s latest (brilliant),

By Jim Ayres If I’ve ever had better fried chicken than I experienced at Gus’s World Famous Hot and Spicy Fried Chicken, I certainly don’t remember it. And I’m sure

By Jim Ayres So long my dear, caseoso, borracho, caliente friend. It looks like our 50+ year refried kind of love affair is ending. It’s your fault, of course. I’m

By Jim Ayres If you work from home (as I do) or have been sick lately (as have I) you may only have a fleeting knowledge that the height of